• Wigan Athletic lost their first game with new Head Coach Ryan Lowe in charge against promotion-chasing Charlton Athletic at the Valley.
• The Addicks dominated the first half and went ahead on 11 minutes after Jason Kerr’s clearance hit Ollie Norburn and fell to Matty Godden who finished first time past Sam Tickle.
• The visitors failed to have any shots on target in the first half and the hosts doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Godden tapped home for his second goal.
• Godden had a chance for his hat-trick at the start of the second half but Tickle produced a superb double save to keep Latics in the game.
• The Addicks continued to control the game with Tyreece Campbell terrorising the Latics defence, but with six minutes remaining Latics pulled a goal back.
• Substitute Ronan Darcy’s shot was only partially saved by goalkeeper Will Mannion and fellow substitute Chris Sze followed up to score.
• For the first time the Addicks looked uncomfortable and Latics forced a series of corners but the hosts held on for the three points.
• Latics drop to 17th place and the Addicks remain in fourth place in the League One table.

New Head Coach Lowe made three changes from the victory over Cambridge United with Scott Smith, Jensen Weir, and Owen Dale replacing Baba Adeeko, Ronan Darcy, and Jonny Smith.

Owen Dale started the game strongly and his dangerous cross on six minutes nearly found Luke Chambers at the back post.

But Latics were soon behind as Kerr’s clearance hit Norburn and the ball fell straight to the feet of Godden who finished first time past Tickle on 11 minutes.

The hosts were close to a second as Campbell found space in the box, but his goal bound shot hit his own player.

Macaulay Gillesphey tested Tickle with a curling free-kick from 25 yards before Jensen Weir had a rare chance on the counter attack as he drove into the box, but he was soon closed down and unable to get in his shot.

Charlton doubled their lead on 38 minutes as a free kick from the left was headed back across goal by Gillesphey and Godden was unmarked at the back post to tap home. 

Latics players appealed for offside, but it was to no avail.

Tickle kept Latics in the game at the start of the second half. The Latics keeper was was out quickly to deny Campbell before he then denied Godden a hat-trick.

Substitute Chris Sze set up Dale Taylor for Latics’ best chance of the game, but he dragged his effort wide from a great position.

Kerr then had to divert Campbell’s dangerous in-swinging shot from 20 yards round the far post with his head.

Substitute Jonny Smith was quickly into the action producing a cross for Taylor, but the ball was just too high.

With six minutes remaining Latics got back into the game. Substitute Darcy forced Mannion into a good save from a Jonny Smith cross, and substitute Sze was on hand to fire home the rebound for his first goal of the season.

For the first time the Addicks looked uncomfortable and Latics forced a series of corners but the hosts held on for the three points.

Overview

This was a disappointing start to Ryan Lowe’s tenure as Latics new Head Coach. Latics were very poor in the first half and struggled against an in-form Charlton team.

They struggled to come to terms with Charlton’s attacking intensity and failed to contain the hosts’ impressive forward line of Watson, Campbell, Berry and Godden. 

Latics seemed unable to play through midfield and they all too easily surrendered possession.

The Addicks could easily have been more than two goals ahead at half-time.

Despite not having had time to work with the players Lowe was in the dugout for his first game. However it might’ve been better if Glenn Whelan had taken charge for this game and Lowe could’ve taken an overview from the Stands.

It was pleasing to see Latics rally in the latter stages of the game, but it is evident from this defeat that Lowe has a lot of work to do to improve the team.

Fortunately Lowe now has two weeks to work with the squad before they face Barnsley at the Brick Community Stadium on March 29th.

League Table

Post match comments

Latics’ new Head Coach Ryan Lowe expressed there were positives to build on during the next fortnight in the build-up to their next Sky Bet League One fixture against Barnsley.

“It was too late in the end,” he told the media.

“I said to the boys in the changing room that we needed to have more of a calmness. This place is a bit of a fortress, and we left it too late.

“The first half wasn’t what we planned, and we made changes and changed shape at half-time. Charlton are where they are for a reason, but I felt like if we had another five minutes, we might’ve nicked a goal.

“It was a great goal on our behalf, and we just needed a little bit more of that. We need more belief – and they know that. 

“It’s one of those games where you come to these types of places, and know it’s not going to be easy. We didn’t do enough to come out with something today.

“The two goals could’ve definitely been avoided and that’s stuff we will work on throughout the season. 

“Fair play to all the staff and players, they took to me like a duck to water. We had a great day on Friday, and the staff have been excellent. 

“We spoke about the team selection, and I didn’t want to change too much. We tried to do a few things, but in the second half, we had to make changes.

“I’m pleased and enjoyed it. I thought the fans were great and stuck with us right the way through.”

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